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Press Release

Chairman Xavier Becerra On President Obama’s Call To Action On Immigration Reform

October 24, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after President Barack Obama delivered remarks calling on Congress to pass commonsense, comprehensive immigration reform, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement:

“Congress will pass a commonsense, comprehensive reform of our broken immigration system. The question is not if, but when. When will the House Republican leadership allow a vote for a real fix to our immigration laws? The Senate has already acted — with a bipartisan 68 to 32 vote. When will the House Republican leadership realize this is good for our economy, our security and our families — in short, for our American values?

“President Obama has listened to and worked hard with Democrats and Republicans to see to it that our broken immigration system gets fixed the right way. Today, again, he reached out to my colleagues, regardless of party, to urge us all to move forward with a commonsense fix in the House. The President is ready to sign a comprehensive reform of our dysfunctional immigration laws. But first the House must be freed to put democracy in action with a debate and vote for a comprehensive fix.

“Three weeks ago, House Democrats introduced just such a fix: H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. H.R. 15 echoes the spirit of the bipartisan Senate bill and upholds our basic principles: to secure our borders, protect our workers, unite families, and offer hardworking, tax-paying immigrants an earned pathway to citizenship. If Speaker Boehner were to put H.R. 15 up for a vote, I am confident it would have the votes to pass in the House today.

“The American people, like President Obama, are way ahead of the politicians when it comes to immigration reform. They want our broken immigration system fixed and they want it fixed now. This is not a time to shutdown progress that is good for our economy, good for our security, and good for our American values. The time for action is now.”